There are signs the latest surge in COVID-19 cases locally is abating, and other reports show no improvement. The Daily Freeman reports that the case count in Ulster County has fallen to a two-month low. On Oct. 12, Ulster County officials reported 257 coronavirus cases, down 31 Oct. 8. That is the first time Ulster County reported fewer than 260 active cases since Aug. 7, and far below the 698 active cases on Sept. 12. In Dutchess County, though, the numbers are still bad, with 660 COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 12, up six from the day before. Dutchess County has reported 600 cases or more since the last week in September. Both those numbers are much better than the more than 2,500 COVID-19 cases reported in January. Columbia County reported 79 cases Oct. 12, up from 67 on Oct. 9. Greene County reported 42 new cases since Oct. 8, but has the same total since then, 180 people testing positive. Albany County, meanwhile, has announced one new COVID-19 death on each of the last six days. There is no evidence that Rensselaer County has reported to the public how many cases there are there recently.